The C1 is a 2021 TV, but the gaming extras and other differences between it and the C2 from 2022 aren't worth the price.
TCL's 65R635 QLED TV, our favorite gaming TV value of the year, is a few milliseconds laggier than the top two, but you probably won't notice. David has reviewed TVs, streaming services, streaming devices and home entertainment gear at CNET since 2002. Another related feature is game mode, which reducesinput lag. All rights reserved. Read our Samsung QN90A series (2021) review. That's because they nail the basics of picture quality, including color, contrast, resolution and brightness, so practically any video content will look good on them. But most gamers don't have to worry about OLED burn-in. You might see different lag test results from different review outlets, which may use Bodnar or another method.
Most gamers, however, will find that the best TV for gaming is the best TV, period. In my experience, however, the differences in image quality are really subtle with console gaming, and worth the trade-off if you want to minimize lag for a great gaming experience. And some cutting-edge PS5, Xbox Series X and PC gamers might appreciate 4K/120Hz input and variable refresh rate. Read our TCL 6-Series (2020 Roku TV) review. As I mentioned at the top, the best TV for gaming is one that has the best picture quality for viewing everything else, too. Select TVs' input lag with game mode on and off (milliseconds), Best non-OLED, second-lowest lag (10.27ms), Best for the price, low input lag (19.97ms), Cheapest with VRR, low input lag (11.03ms), gaming extras and other differences between it and the C2, Read our Samsung QN90A series (2021) review, Read our TCL 6-Series (2020 Roku TV) review, Read our Vizio M-7 Series Quantum (2021) review.
Game mode makes a difference, except when it doesn't. Yes, there are other factors, but they don't apply to most gamers. In general, the numbers are similar to the lag with standard 1080p resolution, but as you can see from the chart above, there are exceptions. The following TVs, featured at the top of the page, deliver either the lowest lag I've measured among the TVs I've reviewed, the best picture quality for the money, or a combination of both. He is an ISF certified, NIST trained calibrator and developed CNET's TV test procedure himself. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. How fast you react while gaming depends on a feedback loop between your brain, your fingers, the game controller and the action you see on theTV screen. The display resolution you play at has an impact, and since new consoles prominently feature 4K HDR output for games, I started testing for 4K HDR lag in 2018.
Delay at any point will diminish your performance and the thrilling immediacy of the playing experience.
If the TV input where your console is connected is shared with other devices and you don't want to remember to re-engage game mode all the time, an auto game-mode feature might be useful.
No matter how twitchy you are, it's going to be tough to tell the difference between 13 and 30 milliseconds of input lag. Turning game mode on can hurt image quality (a little). 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. There are actually three LG OLED TVs tied for the lowest lag on the chart, but we're choosing the C1 because it's the best value. It can get brighter than any of the OLED TVs listed here, supports all the next-gen gaming features, and showed lower lag than any 2020 TV we've tested so far. Games benefit from deep black levels, bright highlights and uniform screens just as much as movies and TV shows do. In most cases, viewing in game mode isn't automatic so you'll have to turn it on manually, and sometimes the gaming monitor setting can be difficult to find.
The other two, the C2 and the G1, are both more expensive, and all three deliver very similar picture quality -- which happens to be the best we've ever tested. Shop your favorite products and well find the best deal with a single click.
It takes mere milliseconds for a video signal to travel from your console through the HDMI input on your TV to display on the screen, but too many milliseconds can be noticeable to your brain, or downright deadly to your in-game character. How to turn on game mode. Many gamers won't even be able to discern between having game mode on and off -- it all depends on the game and your sensitivity to lag. Designed to make shopping easier. These TVs maximize image quality and minimize delay between your controller and the action. TV makers' menus often refer to reduced picture quality.
Another high-end 2021 TV, this Samsung QLED model delivers the best picture quality of any TV we've reviewed that's not based on OLED display tech. We handpick the products and services we write about. Here's how it works, and how I use it. Note that its lag score here was measured with the special "Reduce input delay (input lag)" setting in the Boost position. 4K HDR gaming lag is different from 1080p. Previously David wrote reviews and features for Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. I use a Leo Bodnar lag tester. Boost is only available for 60Hz sources, so you can't use it with 120Hz games or variable refresh rate (VRR). But there are other features as well that can enhance a TV's gaming performance. He is known to two people on Twitter as "The Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics.". Read our Vizio M-7 Series Quantum (2021) review. The MQ7 is one of the least expensive TVs available that supports variable refresh rate (VRR), a feature found on the PS5 and Xbox Series X that smooths out images and reduces tearing. With those sources you'll need to use the Standard position, which is still an excellent 13ms. These include low input lag and advanced input capabilities such as 120Hz and variable refresh rate, which are great for anyone with a next-gen console like theXbox Series XandPlayStation 5.
If you play the same game constantly on your smart LED TV and never put anything else on the screen, and that game as a bright static element that stays in the same place on the screen (like a HUD or other status display), you might be at risk for OLED burn-in.
The TVs that work best for gaming tend to be the best TVs for everything else, too. Testing is an inexact science. Reduced picture quality is generally the result of turning off that video processing. It also has excellent image quality for the money, if not quite as good as the TCL 6-Series. Most TVs' game modes are good enough for most gamers. In general, expensive TVs with elaborate video processing get more of a benefit when you engage game mode. Those milliseconds are known as input lag. Many use a picture mode called "Game" while some, like Samsung and Vizio, let you apply game mode to any setting. As you can see in the table above, many TVs cut lag substantially when you turn on game mode, but plenty don't.